Variable capacity pump



Oct. 27,1942. J. n.v BErTs VARIABLE CAPACITY PUMP Filed Deo; 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John l?. Buffs f BY (9M/C YV 4 ATTORNEY.

.LR BETTs VARIABLE CAPAQITY PUMP Filed De@ 18, 1939 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 2,7,` 1942.

Fig. 5

latentedv Oct. l27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE VARIABLE CAPACITY PUMP John R. Betts, Kearney, Nebr.

ApplicationDecember 18, 1939, Serial )10.309.817

(Cl. S-41) Claims.

My invention relates to reciprocating pumps andthe primary object of the invention is the provision of a piston of relatively large diameter tageously the available power whether the wind is light or strong.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump winch is designed to be operated by a windmill even though the wind is too 4light to actuate the pump at full capacity.

Another object is the provision of pistons of much llargerdiameter and capacity than the prior pistons.

Another object is the provision of a which may be expanded to form a water tight bearing with the well lining and which may be contracted when itis `desired to Withdraw the piston for repairsor other purposes.

Another object is the provision of a pump structure which may be lowered into or withdrawn as a unit from the well cavity.

Another' object is the provision of a windmill operated pump which will not race and tear itself to pieces in strong Winds.

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description,

I will now refer to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a well with my pump installed therein.

. Figure2 is a vertical sectional view showing the lower portion of my pump. l'

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing an intermediate portion of my pump.

, Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional vie'w in reduced scale showing the valve arrangementv of the valve in the pistons as viewed from above.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional broken view of the upper portion of my pump.

, Figure 5A is a vertical sectionaly view of the valve arrangement for automatically lowering the pressures in the pump when the wind velocity is below normal.

lFigure 6 is a view in perspective showing the device for lowering the water level during freezing weather. .i Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing piston' tire rim 2li of the wheel 2i.

thelowermost part of a modified form of my I'he bore of the weil is'formed in the usual manner but since it is my purpose to employ automobile tires and wheels for pistons, the bore is relatively large in diameter, the diameter being usually from ten 'inches to thirty-two inches.

This bore isformed to a point beneath the water` table at the bottom of which a cylindrical screen I0 is inserted. Above the screen I0 is a metallic annulus Il which rests on the screen. This annulus has secured thereto and depending there` from a conical screen I2, the parts being secured together as best shown in Figure 2. A metallic` tons I5. In practice, the cylindrical screen Il and at least six feet of the liner I3 are placed under water.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the screen I2 is constructed with an annular. i

shelf I6 on which rests the seat member Il ofthe ball valve I8 which is preferably made from rubber'or a rubber composition.- It will be readily understood that this valve i8 will admit water from below but prevent passage of water down through the valve |1- |s. The lower part or the well structure also includes a channel for a reserve supply of air under pressure for purposes to be subsequently explained.

Above the annular plate II is a lowermost valve, this being stationary and formed of an automobile tire and wheel. This tire rests in the It is provided with check valves 22 which may be concentrically arranged as shown in Figure 4. These valves 22 are of common construction having a valve plate 23 which is spring pressed into closing position. Their structure is oi the open type so that water which passes upwardly past the 4valve plate 23 will be discharged in the chamber above the valve. The valve 24 consists oi' the usual tire and inner tube which are well-known in the automobile art. It is inflated through connections 25 and 26 with the reserve reservoir I9 which vto a certain extent controls the loss through leakage of air.

The lowermost valve 24 is stationary. 'The in ner tube of that valve holds its pressure almost indeinitely since it is entirely under. water at constant temperature at all times and since it a cap closure 26a and a valve stem 2Gb shown in Figure 5. It should be here noted that the casings of the pistons. I and the valve 2t must be either smooth or they must have a tread which will prevent the passage of water past the peripheries of the casings.

The inner tubes of thereciprocating pistons I5 must be kept inflated and the inflation should be uniform for all of the pistons I5. The pressure on the tires shall at all times be more than the hydrostatic pressure of the water surrounding the tires. In any welljas soon as the maximum hydrostatic pressure has been ascertained, all

that will be necessary' is to set the tire pressure a few pounds above this hydrostatic pressure at which point it can be. constantly maintained.

For this purpose an air pipe 29 is connected to. the valve stems of all of the pistons i5, terminating in a pressure tank 30 with a valve stem 3l at the upper end of the tubular 4piston rod 21.

,Above the pressure tank is an air pressure gauge 32, also secured to the piston rod 21. The pressure gauge 32 at all times gives the operator the necessary information as to the air pressure in the pistons I5 so as to enable him to increase or decrease the pressure through the valve 3i.

Wind velocities vary greatly and between' Wide limits. Sometimes this wind velocity is such that it cannot perform the work of pumping water from wells of the large diameters which I-employ even though it would function perfectly in wells of average diameter. At such times the wind velocity is too low to overcome the weight of water to be lifted by pistons of large diameter.-

In the upward stroke each piston I5 must carry the load of water but it is also compelled to overcome the suction beneath the moving pistons. At such times I employ the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 5A. vA check valve 33 is secured to the hollow piston rod 21 at a point above one of the pistons I5 to conduct water into the anpistons suddenly. increases the suction underneath the piston. This increase in'suction-willbe accompanied by 'a rapid rush of water to throw the ball 38 of the velocity valve upwardly to cut oil" all leakage flow through the check valve 33. This action is again sudden and it results in a sudden increase in'the suction between the valve system 2d and the lowermost of the pistons I5. This increase in suction causes the elevation of the water in the Water line within the space surrounded by the cylindrical liner I3. This sudden increase in suction naturally brings up water through the suction line until, if the.

' Water in proportion to the velocity of the wind.

It can readily be seen that were it not for this unloading system, it would be necessary to nor? maily equip the pump with a-much smaller cylinder than the one above described. If there were no means' of unloading, the load on the cylinder would be proportionate to the velocity of the wind, resulting in the balanced condition causing the mill to stand still and pump no water.

nular space surrounding the air conduit 26. The l gate vale 34` admits water from the water linel at a point above the normal water level and into and through a velocity valve 35 which oonnects the gate valve 34 to the check valve 33. The gate valve may be closed or opened, either wholly or partly, by means of a hand wheel 36 within convenient reach of the operator, the hand wheel being connected by means of a stem 31 to the gate valve 34. The velocity valve 35, as shown in Figure 5A, includes a ball 38 which is actuated by the ow of water through the velocity valve.

The water passing through the check valve 22 enters the hollow piston rod 21 and falls out through the lower open end of the piston rod and onto the valve system 24. It suddenly relieves` the piston I5 of a small portion lof its load of water, but what is still more important, it suddenly breaks the suction underneath the lowermost piston I5 and above the valve system 24. The mill wheel is thus enabled again tos'tart the upward movement of the pistons on theirup- By equipping the mill with an extraordinarlly large cylinder such as I have described, the mill can Still be kept loaded in very strong winds to a. point whereby it will not race and tear itself to pieces, and at `the same time gain a great deal more water capacity.

The piston rod `21 is in the form of ahollow cylinder extending from the topy of the pump to the lowermost of the movable pistons I5. It is centered in the well, all of the pistons I5 being secured thereto to provide bearings in the liner I3 so that no shaft bearings are needed. The air conduit 26 is stationary within the reciprocating pump rod 21 with an annular cylindrical space therebetween. The air conduit 29, 'the reserve air pressure tank 30, and the check valve 33 are all secured externally to the piston rod 21 to reciprocate therewith. The cap 28 serves as any air-tight closure for the upper open end of the piston rod so that the air in the piston rod is not allowed to escape except through the bottom opening which is under water and through an opening especially provided for the purpose near the top of the pump rod. This opening leadsV into an air conduit 39 which is provided with a cap 40 for opening, or closing, or partly opening the air passage through the conduit 39.

The reciprocatlon of the `hollow piston rod with its lower open end under water will develop fluctuations in air pressure in the space enclosed in the pump rod. On the downward stroke, the enclosed body of air tends to'be compressed and this pressure is released while the pump rod is moving upwardly. These fluctuations may be read on the air pressure gauge 4I which is secured to the piston rod and'spaced therefrom by properlyadjust the cap 40 or gate valve 34 to ward stroke but this upward movement of the i5 control these uctuations. l

The air valve 40 can be so set that a slight amount of air will enter during the upward stroke of the hollow piston rod 21. The, purpose of entering this small volume of air is that it will be carried downward with' the water entering through the gate valve 34 and this small volume of air will act as a cushion to prevent the pounding which normally occurs in the use of large piswater. If there is no pounding or if there seems to be a little air in the water this valve can be` left closed altogether. The main regulation will come from water through the gate valve 34 which can be adjusted manually to the desired point through the hand wheel 35. In light winds water flowing through the valve 34 will not only relieve CFI watching the operation of this gauge`the operator will bev able to adjust the gate valve 34 through the medium of the hand wheel 36 until the maximum throw between pressure and vacuum has been attained at which point he knows that the pump is lifting the maximum amount tons due to the lack of .compresslbility of the l the vacuum under the piston when the piston stops on its upward motion, but due to the utter lacli of compressibility of the Water, as soon asa very small volume enters through valve 34 not only will the vacuum under the piston I5 be relieved but the pressurevon both sides of the piston I5 will equalize. When this happens the only weight supported on the pump rod of the mill will be the hollow piston rod `21 plus the weight of the piston I5 itself. It-will be readily seen that this weight will be so light inproportion to the total load that would normally be lifted that the mill operating this equipment can easily overcome the inertia to get it started. When this is happening and thevelocity of the piston I5 has reached any normal degree of speed, a vacuum will develop under the piston I5 which will in turn be transmitted through pipe 21 and pass through theche'ck valve 33, through the automatic valve and through 'the gate valve 34. This sudden increase of vacuum will I immediately produce -a corresponding rush of water which will pass into' thel gate. valve 34.-

through the velocity valve35, through the check valve 33 and throughithej piston 21. If the vacgreat enough to throw theball 3 8 into the aperture in the top of the cavitydf the velocity valve 35 which will suddenly cut oil? all flow and give a high kick to the lvacuum. This high vacuum will naturally cause valves 23 which are located in piston' 24 to lift allowing water to enter and to be trapped above these valves in ""1: the.

mill stops. If, however,4 v the wind Avelocity is high enough to cause pistonil to travel'continu ously then the ball check 384 will operate through a very rapid cycle and there wil1 be very little loss of water. If it dls desired to operate the ball 38 slowly then the orifice in the gate valve 34 may be closed to such a point that'the operation of the ball 38`will be sluggish and make the oper- `ation slightly easier on the mill. `It is not intended that the valve 35 shall be any special valve but may be any standard ball valve now on the market or any disk valve or inverted spool valve. This may be almost any vertical check just as long as it is used upside down and becomes particularly a matter ofthe balance between welght inytheapper of the ball che ck itself and the upward velocity of the water. It is only necessary to design this valve so that the water attains considerable velocity before lthis valve slams shut and it is the slamming of this valve shut that causes the rapid rise ofvvacuum through the hollow piston rod 21 and under the piston I5.

The gauge 4I, which may be termed a rocking gauge, is a gauge. that indicates both pressure `and vacuum. This change of condition is happening in piston rod 21 and under piston I5. By

of water because the vacuum under I5 is attaining its highest point and this high vacuum naturally means the largest volume of water possible for each stroke. The gauge 32 is merely a pressure gauge to show the pressure inthe moving pistons 'and as the operator by watching gauge 4I can read the maximum hydrostatic pressure he will readily be able to put air pressure in chamber 30 through the valve 3| so that the gauge32 registers'a few pounds above the maximum gauge pressure indicated on the gauge 4I during the pressure and of' the stroke and las it is only necessary to have the pressure in `the pistons I5 a few pounds above the hydrostatic pressure, the functions-of the gauges can readily be seen. I

Provision is also made for draining the water from above the frost line. A pipe 43 enters the well and passes through the liner I3. The, valve 44 is controlled by means of a handle 45 to open and close the valve 44. The conduits 43 and 46 lvare partially imbedded in the concrete surround;-

ing the liner I3. The water is thus allowed to drain to the frost line through a pipe 46 to the bottom of the well as indicated in Figure 2. In Figure l three water levels are indicated. The

lowermost of these levels shown indicates the' normal water table at the site of the installation. The intermediate level in the Well casing indicates the position above which there is danger of freezing the water in the well chamber. The topmost level is the pumping level, the water being `discharged at that level through a spout 41 The pump is a pump of extraordinary capacity, but it is also extremely simple in construction and installation. The entire pump may be assembled above ground and then lowered through the cylindrical liner I3 until it seats on the annular shoulder as shown in- Figure 2. After inflating the inner tubes of the pistons I5 and of the valve system 24 to the desired pressure and connecting the pump rod 21 to a windmill or to other suitable source of power, the pump is ready for operation. All parts of the pump assembly are readily accessible by rst deilating piston whose diameter is less than that of the smallest tire available.

In Figures 7 and 8 I show a pump of small diameter employing the principles above described. The well casing in-J cludes a liner 48 which is similar to the liner I3 in all respects except that in general it has a smaller diameter than the liner I3. The sand `screen 49 is 'a conical extension of a hollow cylinder 50 projecting downwardly through the lower open end of the well casing 43. At the juncture of the conical screen 49 and the cylindrical conduit 50 is afoot valve 5l with a. guard 52 to the gasket being compressible by turning the annulus 53 on the ring 55. The gasket is preferably of the kind known in the trade as a Dresser gasket. The annulus 53 is provided with a bail 58 which may be grasped by any suitable tool either for turning the annulus or for hoisting the stationary parts of the pump out of the well through the casing 48.

The piston employed in the weil 48 above the bail 58 includes a stem 59 in the form of a hollow cylinder which is open at its lower end. The rings A60 surround this stem. These rings are made of rubber or rubber composition or lignum vitae or other substance for which water is a natural lubricant. Spacers 6| of metal surround the stem 59 between each pair of rings 60'. These spacers are of somewhat shorter diameter than the rings 60 which are of a size to fit snugly in the casing 48. The alternate rings 59 and spacers 6I are secured to the stem 59 by means of rings 62 which are screw threaded to the lower and upper ends of the stem 59. Above the piston assembly is a flanged plate 63 which is screw threaded in the upper extremity of the stem 59. This plate 63 has an aperture 64 providing a seat for the ball valve 65. Ribs 66 provide an open connection with the block 61 which carries the hollow tubular piston 68. A by-pass 68 connects the chamber of the piston 68 with the chamber of the stem 59.

In nearly all respects the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8 is similar to the construction previously described. The differences reside mainly in tbe absence of the air lines which supply the inner tubes of the pistons l5 and the valve system 24. Since no inflation is necessary, the air lines for inflating the inner tubes are also unnecessary. The construction shown in Figures 7 and 8 is designed for utilizing the valves 33, 34 and since this valve arrangement may be secured to the piston rod 68 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the piston rod 21. The water which is drained through the check valve 33 would fall to the 4bottom of the chamber in the piston rod 68 and from thence it would pass throughl the by-p'ass 69 into the chamber of the stem 59.

An important feature of my invention is the specific form of piston which I employ. This in-l cludes a disc of metal or other suitable .material and provided with one or more check valves which permit the flow of water in one directionV but prevent its flow in the opposite direction. At the rim of the disc is a rim which is made in the' form of the automobile tire rim and on this rim is seated an automobile tire consisting of a casing and an inner tube which may be infiated' or deated. Whereas the cost of an ordinary piston of the size required would be prohibitive, the cost of the piston as I construct it is com# paratively low. Besides, the material of the casing is practically frictionless in the metallic cylinder which is lubricated with water.

The piston may be employed wherever water is to be moved through conduits. For example,

it may be desired to irrigate with water from a stream-fed pond. In cases like this the cylinder maybe horizontal or inclined as well as vertical. One piston may respond to the stream flow to actuate another piston of smaller diameter to lift the water from the pond even though the stream ow may be inadequate for the purpose with the ordinary equipment. In other words, the equipment would function much as a hydraulic ram does by utilizing a. portion of the stream flow to elevate a portion of the water.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: O

1. In combination, a cylindrical well casing having an annular shelf at its lower portion, a cylindrical screen member passing through the central aperture of said annular shelf and having an out-turned annular member seated on said annular shelf, and a valve at the upper extremity of said screen member, said valve having an expansible and contractible rim bearing against said well casing, 'the arrangement being such that said screen member and said valve may be removed from the well casing by first contracting said rim.

2. A well casing and a pump, said casing being in the form of a concrete cylinder having a smooth metallic liner, an expansible and contractible piston within said casing for lifting the water in said well casing, a conduit passing through said concrete cylinder and through said liner at the frost line, said conduit passing downward within said concrete cylinder and imbedded` lin the concrete thereof and having a discharge opening immediately below the lower edge of said concrete cylinder.

3. A well casing and a pump, said pump including a check valve at the lower extremity thereof, said check valve having a hollow rim of inflatable material to provide a peripheral seal against said casing, means for infiating and defiating said hollow rim whereby said check valve may be inserted into and held immovably in said casing or withdrawn from said casing, a piston having a hollow rim of inflatable material, a piston rod secured to said piston, and an air conduit for inflating or deflating said hollow rim, said conduit being reciprocable with said piston rod and terminating near thetop of said well casing within convenient reach of the operator.

4. A pump including a cylinder and a reciprocable piston'therein, a piston rod projecting upwardly from said piston, said piston rod being` in the form of a hollow cylinder and having a lower .open endl below the level of said piston, and a manually controlled check valve on said piston rod above said piston for conducting water from said cylinder into said piston rod to thus relieve said piston of a portion of its load and to simultaneously relieve the suction beneath said piston.v

5. In combination, a well casing, a pump rod reciprocable within said casing, a piston secured to said pump rod, said piston comprising a flat thin disc having a flared tire rim at the periphery of said disc, a tire casing of a material for which water is a natural lubricant secured in said tire 6. In combination, a well casing, a pump `rod reciprooable within said casing, a piston secured to saidpump rod, said piston comprising a solid disc having a check valve extending therethrough, a tire rim at the periphery of said disc, a tire casing of a material for which water is a natural lubricant secured in said tire rim, an inner tube within said tire casing, and means for varying the pressure within said inner tube to vary the pressure exerted by said tire casing against said well casing. .4

7. In combination, a well'casing, a fiat thin disc within said casing and having a ared tire rim at the periphery of said disc, a circular row of check valves extending through said disc, said check valves being disposed concentrically with the axis of said disc and said well casing, atire casing secured in said tire rim, an inner tube within said tire casing, and means for varying the pressure within said inner tube to vary the pressure exerted by said tire casing against said well casing. A Y, l

8. A pump having a. reciprocating piston adapted to be operated by'a windmill,` upwardly opening check valves in said piston, a `bypass of f of a material for which water is a natural lubricant secured in said tire rim,.the upper flange oll said tire rim extending over less than halfV the radial depth of the tire and the lower ange of said rim over a greater portion of the tire -but within said casing for yieldably urging the same relatively small size around said piston and check valves, and check valve means in said by-pass normally operative to permit a flow of. water through said by-pass from the upper side of `said piston to the under side but effective upon said flow attaining a predetermined velocity to close velocity is great enough to operate said pump at full capacity. 10. In combination, a well casing, a disc within said casing and having a concavely curved rim at the periphery of said disc, a check valve extending through said disc, a tire casing of a material for which water is a natural lubricant seoutwardly against said well casing. 13. In combination, a. well casing, a pump rod reciprocable within said casing, a piston secured to said pump rod, said piston comprising a central portion and a concavely curved tire rim at the periphery cf said central portion, a tire casing of a material for which'water is a'natural lubricant secured in said tire rim, an inner tube within said tire casing, and means for varying the pressure within said inner tube to vary the pressure exerted by said tirel casing against said well casing, the radiall depth of said tire being atleast a third more than the depth of said rim so that the outer portion of said tire is free to ilex transversely.

14. In combination, Ia, well casing, a'pump rod reciprocable within said casing, a piston secured to said pump rod, said piston comprising a cena tral portion and a concavely curved tire rim at tire casing,.and a pressure thamber secured to 4for shutting off said by-pass when the wind cured in said tire rim, the radial depth of said tire being at least a third more than the depth of said rim so that the outer portion ofsaid tire is free to ilex transversely, an inner tube within said tire casing, andmeans for varying the pressure within said inner tube to vary the pressure exerted by said tire casing against said well casing.

11. Iny combination, a`well casing, a pump rod reciprocable within said casing, a piston secured to said pump rod, said piston comprising a cen#- tral portion anda concavely curved tire rim at the periphery of said central portion, a hollow tire casing of a material for which water is a natural lubricant securedin said tire rim, the radial depth of said tire being at least a third more than the depth of said rim so that the outer portion of said tire is free to ilex transversely, andmeans within said casing for yieldably urging the same outwardly against said well casing.

12,. In combination, a well casing, pump' rod reciprocable within said casing, a piston secured to said pump rod, said piston comprising a centhe upper end of said pump rod and connected to said linner tube to maintain a predetermined pressure within said inner tube, the radial depth of said tire being at least a third more than-the depth of said rim so that the -outer portion of i said tire is free to flex transversely.

15. A pump including a cylinder and a reciprocable piston therein, a piston rod projecting upwardly from` said piston, said piston rod being in the form of a hollow cylinder and having a lower open end below thelevel of said piston, a connection through said hollow piston rod, above said .piston for conducting the pumped fluid from lsaid cylinder into. said piston rod to thus relieve said piston of a, portion of its load and to simultaneously relieve the suction beneath said piston, and a check valve in said connection normally effective to permit such flow of fluid through said. Yconnection but effective upon thel lcasing for lifting the water insaid well casing.

a conduit passing through said cylinder adjacent the-frost line, said conduit passing downwardly and having a discharge opening belowj the frost line, and a valve in said conduit and having an operating member accessible from above the ground.

18. A well casing and a pump, said casing being in the form of a concrete cylinder having a smoothmetallic liner, a piston Within said caslng for lifting the waterlin saldwell casing, a

conduit passing through said concrete. cylinder and through said-liner adjacent the frost line,

said conduit passing downward within said concrete cylinder and imbedded in the concrete thereof and having a discharge opening below said piston, and a valve in said conduit and having an operating member accessible from above the ground.

19. In a pump, a piston having a piston rod, said piston rod being in the form of a hollow cylinder open below the piston at its lower extremity but closed at its upper extremity so as to result in an air cushion in said piston rod, the pressure of which air cushion increases on the down stroke and decreases on the upstroke of the piston, and a valve closure in the upper portion of said piston rod, said closure being effecytive to releasev air from the air cushion on the down stroke and admit air on the upstroke and said closure being` adjustable as to air resistance to adjust the change in pressure in the air cushion during the pumping stroke. e

20. A pump including a cylinder and a reciprocable piston therein, a piston rod projecting upwardly from said piston, said piston rod being in the form of a hollow cylinder and having a lower open end below the level of said piston, a check valve on said piston rod at a point above said piston for conducting water from said cylinder into said piston rod to thus relieve said piston of a portion of its load and to simultaneously relieve the suction beneath said piston and a further check valve at the outer extremity of said check valve effective in the event of the water iiowing through said check valves attaining a. predetermined velocity t0 check such flow of water for automatically controlling the flow of water into said piston rod in accordance with the speed of movement of said piston rod.

JOHN R., BEI'IS. 

